Buckle



j@ Hm 3.9%, www3 M. HAWIE BUCKLE Filed Feb. 1, 1924 J6 @513 Q WMM V im i Patented June 10, 1924.

UNITED STATES l N 1,497,213 PATENT oFFlcE.

MICHAEL HAWIFb-OF GREEN-S FARMS, CONNECTICUT.

BUCKLE.

Application led February 1, 1924. Serial No. 689,850.

To all whom zt may concern.'

Be it known that MICHAEL HAwIE, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Greens Farms, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, has invented certain new and useful Improvements in Buckles, of which the following is a speci-` lication.

This invention relates to an improved form of suspender buckle, and particularly that type of buckle known as rustless back buckles, an object of the invention being to provide a two-part buckle of this character, which will. be simple in construction, effectual in operation, and which will present a smooth surface free of any sharp or rough projections.' A further object is to rovide a buckle which will be relatively at and thin, so that no perceptible bulge will be produced in the clothing of the wearer, and which will furthermore be comfortable in use. Another object is to provide means by which the web may be securely fastened, without the. necessity of stitching, and by means of which an appreciable saving in web may be effected.

Still another object 'is to provide a two piece buckle in which each piece will be formed from a single 'metal stamping, and including in one member an improved form of pivotal bar formed integrally therewith, and in the other a coacting lever by means of which the web is clamped.

A still further object is to provide an improved method of forming and assembling the buckle, to the end that the same will be economical to manufacture, durable in construction, effectual in operation and adapted to be used on both Suspenders and hose supporters in the usual manner.

With the above and other objects in view, an embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, and this embodiment will be hereinafter more fully describedv with reference thereto, and-the invention will be finally pointed out in the claims. l

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the buckle and webbing,'accordin to the present embodiment of the invention, and showing the buckle closed;

Fig. 2 is an edge view of the same;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view, taken along the line 3 3 of Fig. 1;.v

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the buckle,

before attachment of the web, and with the lever member swung to full open position;

Fig. 5 is a side view of the same;

Fig. 6 is a front elevation of the buckle, as shown in Fig. 4, and in the closed position of the lever member;

Fig. 7 is a side view of the same;

Fig. 8 is a front elevation of the frame member of the buckle before attachment of the lever member thereto; and

Fig. 9 is a sectional view of the same, taken along the line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, the buckle according to the present embodiment of the invention is formed of two parts of sheet metal, and comprises a frame member and a lever member, eac'h of one-piece construction.

The-frame member consists of a flat back or base portion 10, having side portions 11 and 12 bent forwardly therefrom and projecting-upwardly, said upwardly projecting portions extending at an incline-forwardly ofthe back portion and having their forward edges inclined 'downwardly to the lower edge of the back portion. A pivot bar 13 is formed integrally with the side portions, preferably extending between the upper ends thereof at the inner side forming bearing portions -a adjacent said sides, and being disposed in spaced and parallel relation with the upper edge of the back portion to lform a slot 14.

The Abar portion is preferably grooved longitudinally at its forward side throughout its length, to impart a semi-circular cross section thereto, for the purpose of strengthening it and to provide an effectual pivotal bearing for the lever member which is hinged thereto, as will hereinafter more fully appear.

Adjacent its bottom edge the back portion 10 is provided with a series of separately cut spaced apart teeth 15, preferably arranged along the frame for approximately its full width, and struck from said back to extend upwardly and forwardly therefrom, that is, to be situated upon the same side of the back as the side portions 11 and 12, the teeth being desirably of substantia V-shape as stamped from the V-shape open= in 16 in the back.

e lever member consists of an operating arm 17 and a clamping arm 18 disposed at an acute angle thereto, and having preferably a series of teeth or serrations 19 to engage and clamp the web, the bend between the two arms being rounded in a' manner as to rotatably engage the bar 13. The serrated portion of the clamping arm terminates in spaced relation to the ends of the member, and adjacent each end, and spaced from the serrated portion by notches 2O and 21, there are provided ears 22 and 23, which in assembling are curled about the' bearing portions a-a of the bar 13 to hingedly vconnect the lever member to the frame member.

The clamping arm of the lever member is of less width than the slot 14, of the frame member, so that it may be rotated through the slot from the front to the rear side with the serrations in spaced relation to the upper edge of the bapk 10. The forwardly offset relation of the bar 13 with respect to the back' permits the clamp-ing arm to assume a position within the slot 14 as shown in Fi in which the-arm is substantially flus and in the plane of the back 10, so that a smooth fiat rear surface is provided, and a relatively thin compact buckle is wroduced. The side portions 11 and 12 integrally supporting the bearing bar 13 furthermore produce an outer side surface entirely free of any projections, sharp points, or moving parts.

In assembling the web 24 with the buckle, the end of the web is passed downwardly in front of the frame member and in the rear of the lever member and inserted between the teeth 15 and the back 10, the teeth being thereupon swedgedback toward the openings 16 to securely grip the web. The web is then extended upwardly and over to engage the upper edge of the back 10, and is extended downwardly across the rear 4face of the frame member, and below said face to produce the lower reach or loop for holding the usual cast-off 25. That portion of the web which is to comprise the u per reach of the web is passed upwardly in ront of the frame member and inthe rear of the lever member, the lever member being arranged, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, in the open position. After the upper reach or running portion of the web has been ,adjusted in an obvious manner to the desired position, the operating arm of the lever member is pressed to the closed position, as shown in Fi s. 1 to 3, so that the serrated edge of the c amping arm presses the web throughl he slot 14 over the upper edge of the covered back 10, the serrations being slightly to the rear of said upper edge so that theweb is firmly clamped. The web being clamped by the engaging edge of the clamping arm and against the end portion of the web covering the edge of the back in a manner to eHectually lock the lever member in closed position, so that it will not become disengaged of its own accord, but only by manually rotating the operating arm,

and any pull on the web will tend to more firmly secure the same and hold the buckle closed.

The assembled web and buckle present a smooth relatively flat structure, free of any projections or surfaces which might tear or abrade the clothing of the user, and the same may be worn with maximum comfort and convenience.

I have illustrated and described a preferred and satisfactory embodimentof t'he invention, but it will be obvious that changes may be made therein, within the spirit and scope thereof, as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A buckle comprising a sheet metal frame member and a lever member, hingedly connected thereto, said frame member including a back having integral web fastening means for securing the end portion of a web thereto, side portions extending above said back, a longitudinal bar formed integral with the back and in spaced relation thereon forming a slot, said bar having a longitudinal groove pressed therein to impart a substantially semi-circular cross section thereto and being forwardly off-set from said back.

2. A buckle comprising a sheet metal f co-operate with the top edge of the back to' clamp a web therebetween.

3. In combination, a buckle comprising a frame member including a back, side portions bent forwardly from said back and extending above the same, a bar formed integral with the upper ends of said side portions and extending between them in parallel spaced relation to said back to form a slot, and integral web fastening means on said back. at the forward side thereof, a lever member pivotally mounted on saidI bar between said side portions and including an operating arm and a clamping arm adapted to swing through said slot with its clamping edge in spaced relation to the upper edge of said back, and a web co-operating with` said frame and lever members, said web fastening vmeans of said frame member adapted to secure the end of the web at the forward side of said back in` a manner to, extend upwardly from said fastening means over the upper edge of said back rearwardly through said' slot and downwardly across and against the rear face of said back, and continuing to form a loop and finally extending upwardly across and in contact with said before mentioned end portion of the web and rearwardly and upwardly through said slot over the portion. of the web engaging the upper edge of the back, and adapted to be engaged by the clamping arm of. the lever member to clampingly pressthe same against the portion of the web extending over the upper edge of said back `portion of the frame member. l

4. In combination, a buckle comprising a frame member including a back, side portions bent forwardly from said back and extending above the same, a bar formed integral with the upper ends of said side portions, disposed in forwardly oli'set relation to said back and extending between said side portions in parallel spaced relation to said back to form a slot, and integral'web fastening means on said back at the -forward side thereof, a lever member pivotally mounted on said bar between said side portions and including an operating arm and a clamping arm adapted to swing through said slot with its clamping edge in spaced relation to the upper edge of said back, and a web cooperatin with said frame and lever members, said web fastening means of said frame member adapted to secure the end of the web at the forward side of said back in a manner to extend upwardly from said fastening means over the upper edge of said back rearwardly through said slot and downwardl across and against the rear face of said bac and continuing to form a loop, and finally extending upwardly across and in contact with said before mentioned end portion of the webv and rearwardly and up.- wardly through said slot over the portion of the web engaging the upper edge of the back, and adapted to be engaged by the clamping arm of the lever member to clampmgl press the same against the portion of t e web extending over the uppervedge of said back portion of the frame member.

5. In combination, a buckle comprising 'a frame member including a back, side port1ons bent forwardly from said back and Yextending above the same, a bar formed integral w1th the upper ends of said side portions and extending between them in parallel spaced relation to said back to form a slot, said bar having a longitudinal groove pressed therein to impart a substantially semi-circular cross section thereto, and in# tegral web fastening means on said back at the forward side thereof, a lever member pivotally mounted on said bar between said side portions and including'an operating a'rm and a clamping arm adapted to swing through said slot .with its clamping edge in spaced relation to the upper edge of said back, and a web cooperating with said frame and lever members, said web fastening means of said1frame member adapted to secure the en d of the web at the forward side -of said back in a manner to extend upwardly from said fastening means over the upper edge of said back rearwardly through said slot and downwardly across and against the rear face of said back, and continuing to form a loop, and finally extending upwardly across and in contact with said before mentioned end portion of the web and rearwardly and upwardly through said slot over the portion of the web engaging the upper edge of the back, and adapted to be engaged by the clamping arm of thev lever member to clampingly press the same against the portion of the web extending over the upper edge of said back portion of the frame member.

6. A buckle comprising a sheet metal frame member, said frame member including a back having a series of separate teeth cut anddisposed outwardly and upwardly from said back for the attachment of the end of a piece of web. side portions extendJ ing above said back, integral pivotal portions connecting saidside portions in parallel spaced relation to said back and being forwardly off-set from said back, and a lever member hingedly mounted on said pivotal portions and includingan operating arm and a clamping arm, said clamping arm 4 being forwardly olf-set from said back, and

lis

a lever member hingedly mounted on said bearing portions and including an operating arm and aclamping arm, said clamping arm adapted to co-o'perate with the back to clamp e a web therebetween.

Signed at Bridgeport, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, this 31st day of Jan., A. D.` 1924.

MICHAEL HAWIE,-

Witnesses:

WALTER D. GRoU'r, C. M. NEWMAN. 

